Hydroponics for the Home Grower

Description

Hydroponics offers many advantages to traditional soil-based horticulture. These include greater control over many of the limiting factors, such as light, temperature, and pests, as well as the ability to grow plants in all seasons. With instruction from one of the top recognized authorities worldwide, Hydroponics for the Home Grower gives you step-by-step guidance on how to grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, arugula, bok choy, and various herbs year-round within your home or in a backyard greenhouse. Read an Interview with Dr. Resh here With Dr.
Howard Resh's help, you'll learn: * Background information on how hydroponics evolved * The nutritional and environmental demands of plants and how to control these factors * How to provide formulations of nutrients optimal to the plants you wish to grow * The many different hydroponic systems you can purchase or build for yourself * Designs for different types of greenhouses with components to fit your personal taste and budget * Crop selection and step-by-step procedures, including seeding, transplanting, training, pest and disease control, and harvesting-along with when to plant and when to change crops * How you can grow microgreens on your kitchen counter The book includes an appendix with sources of seeds and other supplies, along with helpful websites and lists of books, articles, and conferences on growing hydroponically and caring for your crops. By following the guidelines in this book, you'll understand everything you need to know to get your home-growing operation up and running in no time.

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About Author

Howard M. Resh has a doctorate degree in horticulture and is a recognized authority worldwide on hydroponics. He has written five books on hydroponic culture for both commercial and hobby growers and his website (www.howardresh.com) presents information on hydroponic cultures of various vegetable crops. Dr. Resh is the hydroponic greenhouse farm manager for the first hydroponic farm associated with a high-end resort-CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa in Anguilla, British West Indies. He is a consultant for many unique hydroponic greenhouse operations, including Lufa Farms in Montreal, Canada.

Contents

History and Background of Hydroponics How Hydroponics Started: Its Present and Future Applications The Popularity and Benefits of Hydroponic Gardening Why You Should Garden Hydroponically Understanding Hydroponics and How Plants Grow Why Hydroponics Is Not Just Chemistry Plant Growth: The Environment and Its Effects on Plants Water Needs, Management, and Irrigation Practices Nutrients Essential to Plants and Their Sources Essential Nutrients to Plants and Their Functions Sources of Nutrients for Plants in Soil versus Hydroponics Nutrient Formulations and Solutions Signs of Plant Nutritional and Physiological Disorders and Their Remedies Hydroponic Systems Substrates to Use and Their Sources for Hydroponics Small Indoor Hydroponic Units: Types and Construction Large Indoor Hydroponic Units: Designs and Construction How to Start Your Plants Choosing Hydroponic Systems for Specific Crops Environmental Control Components for Hydroponic Systems Year-Round Growing in Greenhouses The Greenhouse Environment for Plants Benefits of a Greenhouse to the Homeowner Design, Layout, and Construction of Backyard Greenhouses Hydroponic Systems for Backyard Greenhouses Sources of Supplies and Components for Backyard Greenhouses Vegetable Crops and Their Cultural Techniques Most Suitable Crops and Varieties Seeding, Transplanting of Vegetable Crops Training of Vegetable Crops Pest and Disease Control Sprouts and Microgreens Sprouts versus Microgreens Growing Techniques for Microgreens Final Advice on How to Get Started Appendix: Sources of Supplies and Information Index